Keeper of Enchanted Rooms (Whimbrel House Book 1)

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Nothing is foolproof.” She slipped her own ward over her head before meeting his eyes. “They’re dangerous to keep on the person for too long; portable spells like these can have strange effects on the body, but it’s safe to keep in-house, otherwise.” He pushed objectivity into his thoughts. Perhaps they had all come to Baltimore to see Grandmother before she passed. Then again, Merritt had, at best, only seen his grandmother once a year during his childhood, and he couldn’t quite remember the scale of sentimentality between her and his mother.

The prologue introduces us to Silas Hogwood, who suffers abuse at the hands of his father --- or rather the abusive spells his father casts on him. But it's the last time we feel pity for Hogwood. We witness his descent into depravity as he murders those around him for their magical ability.But things are not so easy, Whimbrel House isn't like others, some things are in the shadows buried, hidden and they are all in danger! His father had a lead on the animal, but the mare seemed to be all that held him up. He had a bottle in his hand, and his cheeks slouched like he’d aged himself into jowls. He was never this drunk. Silas couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or a bad one. In steps Hulda Larkin, a woman possessed of slight magical ability who works for the Boston Institute for the Keeping of Enchanted Rooms (BIKER). Her job is to tame magical buildings and understand their abilities. She is sent to work with Merritt and Whimbrel House, and arrives not a moment too soon as the house has made Merritt a prisoner. Things get messy and complicated as couple of the year, Hulda and Merritt digging the past and look for Myra. Someone is/or are using illegal magic!

This was my second work by Charlie Holmberg, and second in the Whimbrel House series as well. I had read 'Keeper of Enchanted Rooms' earlier this month and had been stoked to learn that the next one would be coming out in a few weeks! Which meant marshland. “I’m aware of it.” A house abandoned for a hundred years in the middle of a marshy island ... It must be in terrible repair. While the book sounds quite serious in its premise, (and it is so), there are plenty of humorous scenes courtesy Merritt and Owein, thereby creating the perfect balance of emotions. Pah.” Myra set her hand on her shoulder. “It’s a bit out of the way. Take the kinetic line into Providence. BIKER will reimburse you.”

Keeper of Enchanted Rooms by Charlie N. Holmberg – Book Details

Thank you, Anita,” he murmured, reaching out and touching the wall. There was a portrait there of a British woman, though nothing else to denote who she might have been. She seemed to look at him, wondering about the transition of ownership just as much as he did. Merritt: I loved Merritt from the start, but his arc in this book was really something to behold. I loved his growing maturity - not that he was ever immature, but he just grows more into himself. He gains in confidence. He learns to look into himself. And he learns to communicate. The characters were quirky and wholesome. The two protagonists were over thirty (I think, or maybe late 20s) and not your typical beautiful, special without knowing it (or with knowing it) MCs.